Author Archives: Nik Bronder

Memphis Trip.

This past weekend several ladies (Julie, Stacy & Jane) and I headed down to Memphis for MLB’s annual Civil Rights Game between the New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox. Along the way we managed to eat as unhealthy as humanly possible in such a short span. Jane found us a bar that had $1.50 Yuengling (Memphis?), we toured Graceland, Sun Studio, and the Gibson guitar factory, hung out on Beale Street and saw the Mets beat the White Sox.

A successful weekend.

Because I’m into lists, here are the things to note from my trip:

1 Case of Yuengling was smuggled out of the South.
Never laugh in the rain or an overly aggressive homeless man may try to assault you.
White people in Memphis DO NOT want you to go to Wild Bill’s, including the kid who was our tour guide at Sun Studio.
I prefer Wet Ribs to Dry Ribs and Corky’s to Rendezvous.
Elvis impersonators are creepy.
Unforgettable Fire is still the worst U2 album ever.
State Patrolmen treat women much differently than they treat men.
Regardless of what anyone says, there are only 3 ducks at the Peabody Hotel.
Sweet Tea might just be the greatest thing ever invented.
There are Mets fans in Arkansas.
There are no speed limits in Missouri nor Arkansas.

The rest of the photographs from our trip are on Flickr.

Side Note:
I was prompted to do a little research after striking Yuengling Gold in Memphis. Most of you know all to well that you can’t get Yuengling anywhere in Ohio so to find it in Tennessee was a little confusing. I knew there was a brewery in Florida so I assumed it had to come from there. Living in New York City this past year Yuengling was everywhere but since I headed back West in June I haven’t had it. To then find it $1.50 drafts in Memphis was awesome. Possibly the best part of the trip for me.

The beer I brought back to Chicago was brewed in Florida.

I am the official spokesperson for Dave & Busters.

I am pleased to announce that I recently signed a deal with Dave & Busters to appear in five commercials over the next four months. This is my first foray into world of sponsorship but I have a good feeling about it.

St. Patrick’s Day (or What Myles Tersnak Missed).

This year St. Patrick’s Day was spent at Ginger’s Ale House in Wrigleyville with nearly everyone I know in Chicago along with Josh, Jim and James from various corners of this vast country. Below you will find photographs of the day but there are a lot more located on Flickr.

I soldiered on by getting up at 10:00am, showering and heading to Ginger’s by 11:30am where I was met by Kelly and her friends. My strategy (which I’ve been plotting for a month) was to get to the bar before the soccer games end and then score a table. When I arrived I grabbed a seat at the bar across from one of the best ‘bar tables’ this side of the Ohio River. I was planning on staring at the occupants until they left, kind of creepy bit it usually works. Emily on the other hand decided to start a conversation with the occupants and thereby establishing a relationship built on trust to ensure the table. It worked. We didn’t leave the table until at least 11pm.

Throughout the course of the day people came and went and I manned the corner seat. We ended with what some people would consider the best waitress in the Western Hemisphere. She literally was at our table nearly every 15 minutes to serve our needs. And there were a lot of needs.

A list of things we learned from the weekend:

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro loves the Irish.
The bathrooms at Ginger’s are set at a steady 27 degrees.
When girls dressed entirely in Bushmills apparel ask you what kind of Whiskey is in the 15 shots you just purchased you should not answer Jameson.
If you’re dad forces you to learn to ‘play’ the bag pipes you’re going to be busy on St. Pat’s for the rest of your life.
Backyard hero Brett Farve decided to celebrate his recent retirement in style at Ginger’s.
Finding a hat on the street is a perfectly legit way to add to your wardrobe.
In many ways a Polish sport coat is better than an Irish one.
Don’t ever eat meat with peanut butter or it will cause you’re ear to explode.
Josh Furman & Jim Wallis have a way with words.
Myles Tersnak studies too much.